Historical and geographic context 

Strathcona County’s cultural history is rooted in its unique natural heritage. Geographically, Pointe-aux-Pins Acres is set within the Beaver Hills, an area that is unique to this region of Alberta. The Beaver Hills are a slightly elevated island of land that features a dry mixed-wood boreal forest, wetlands and lakes, surrounded by aspen parkland. Retreating glaciers 12,000 years ago created the hummocky “knob and kettle” terrain. The Beaver Hills, designated as a biosphere by UNESCO in 2016, makes up 55 per cent of Strathcona County. 

Significant to the human history of the region, the Beaver Hills-Cooking Lake Moraine provided a perfect habitat for the diverse vegetation, animals, birds and fish on which the nomadic First Nations people thrived for thousands of years. Finding the area to have an abundance of wildlife, the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1795 established one of Western Canada’s largest fur trading posts at Fort Edmonton, near the edge of the Beaver Hills. 

After the Hudson’s Bay Company sold its land to the Dominion of Canada, the North West Mounted Police was established nearby at Fort Edmonton in 1874 and at Fort Saskatchewan in 1875. With law and order in place, and promise of a railway, settlers from many different cultural backgrounds began to arrive to lay claim to land known for its rich and fertile soil. Many Métis families already here took up land claims as well.  

All of this set the stage for the settlement story that played out in this region. Farming and agriculture was the primary way of life in Strathcona County through the first half of the 20th century. Yet, while the onset of industry and residential development in the 1950s brought many changes, the municipality has maintained a stronghold to its rural roots. 

Historical and geographic information for artists and designers

Historical Research Report (6.1 MB)

Fascinating on many levels, Strathcona County’s history can offer a multitude of ideas from which to inspire artists involved in creating public art for Pointe-aux-Pins Acres. By highlighting features of the landscape and aspects of natural and cultural history, the artist acknowledges the specialness of the land and the people who inhabit it. Incorporating history and heritage into public art reflects back to the community memories of its roots, and creates a sense of place, belonging and continuity of time. A detailed report on the history of the Pointe-aux-Pins Creek is being made available to proponents of this project; additional historical information can be found on Strathcona County’s website at strathcona.ca/history